Australia’s new Prime Minister Julia Gillard has demonstrated strong support for her domestic renewable energy industry.

Sworn in last month to replace previous leader Kevin Rudd, Gillard said she is “committed to Australia’s largest ever investments in solar and other renewables.”

Gillard has not made specific mention of the controversial carbon cap-and-trade system which former PM Rudd had championed.

Read more here…

Last week, President Obama offered a strong show of support for domestic solar power with the offer of $2 billion in loan guarantees for large scale solar projects in the Western United States.

Abengoa Solar is the recipient of the first offer, $1.45 billion to help finance the construction and start-up of a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Arizona.  Once operational, the “Solana” plant would add 250MW of electric capacity to the grid, enough to power 70,000 homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 475,000 tons.

A loan of $400 million was also offered to Abound Solar Manufacturing to for the manufacture of thin-film cadmium telluride solar panels, the first time such manufacturing will be deployed anywhere in the world.  When completed in 2013, the manufacturing plant will be capable of producing enough panels to support up to 840MW of new solar every year.

Read more here…

Worldwide, global venture capital investment in the green tech sector has climbed to $4.04 billion during the first half of 2010.  This represents a 65% increase from the same period last year, and slightly exceeds the investment record set during the “boom year” of 2008.

Data from The Cleantech Group and Deloitte shows that solar energy garnered about 40% of all investments, attracting about $811 million in funding.

“There’s been a very clear resurgence in solar activity and that is largely responsible for the strong quarter,” notes Richard Youngman, head of global research for the Cleantech Group.

Scott Smith, Deloitte’s U.S. clean tech leader believes this VC investment trend will have a positive impact on renewables and low carbon industries.    “The significant strengthening of corporate and utility investment into the clean tech sector, relative to 2009, is very encouraging, given the key role they will play in enabling broader adaptation of clean technologies at scale,” he said in a statement.

Read the full article here…

Thanks to the implementation of an industry-friendly feed-in-tariff in 2007, the Italian solar PV market has taken off at a furious pace.

Data from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) shows that Italy installed more photovoltaic systems than the entire United States in 2009.  What’s more, by the end of the year, Italy will have installed over 2,500 MW of solar PV power, more than one and one-half times the U.S. total.

Italy is now the world’s second largest solar PV market after Germany.  Unlike Spain, Italy is not planning to remove its feed-in-tariff anytime soon.  It has set a new target of 3,000MW for the next time period of 2011-2013, but will trim the tariffs 18% by Q3 of 2011.  Italy reached its 2010 target of 1,200MW earlier this year.  Most of these new installations are on rooftops or in distributed applications, and according to the Gestore dei Servizi Energetici, almost 1/4 are relatively small (20kW or less).

Read the full article here…

According to Global Solar Energy Outlook, a new report published by Pike Research, solar power is expected to reach grid parity by 2013, when its costs will be equal to that of traditional energy sources like coal and oil.

Pike predicts that global solar demand will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 24% between now and 2013.  A confluence of factors, including a new abundance of polysilicon, government stimuli in response to the global economic crisis and increased cost efficiency of solar panel modules, have come together to change solar from a “supply-constrained” to a “demand-driven” industry.

“Solar prices are plunging quickly, and lower pricing will fuel a surge in demand in 2010 and beyond,” says senior analyst Dave Cavanagh.  Cavanagh predicts to see a “significant shakeout amongst solar suppliers in the next two years” as companies face increased pressure due to pricing trends and oversupply of solar modules.

Read the full article…

Oil and gas major Total and Spain-based solar company Abengoa Solar have been appointed to construct the largest concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in the world in Masdar, the carbon-zero city and renewable energy initiative of Abu Dhabi.  Abu Dhabi aims to achieve 7% renewable energy generation by 2020.

Called “Shams 1,” this planned CSP plant will extend over an area of 2.5 square km and have a generation capacity of approximately 100MW.  Once completed, it will be the first of its kind in the Middle East region, and the first CSP plant to be registered with the United Nation’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).  This registration will make Shams 1 eligible for carbon credits.

“This project, which will be the first utility-scale, commercial solar power project in the UAE, represents the translation into reality of the vision the Abu Dhabi leadership had for renewable energy in the Emirate,” said Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, CEO of Masdar.  Looking ahead, Abengoa Solar’s director of international development Michael Geyer believes this project is only the beginning.  “The Middle East,” he said,  “is a region that offers both an unlimited solar resource and infinite site locations for implementation of solar plants in its deserts.”

Read more here…

The European Union (EU) Presidency announced the launch of a €6 billion public-private partnership to vastly increase the amount of wind energy used in Europe.

The European Wind Initiative (EWI) is the result of a collaboration between the European wind industry, the EU comission and EU member states.  The EWI aims to supply 20% of all European energy demand with wind energy resources by 2020, 33% by 2030, and finally 50% of total demand by 2050.

The EWI will support research on advanced turbine and component technology to increase efficiencies and reduce costs.  The Initiative aims to speed deployment of both on- and off-shore wind installations, and ease integration of large-scale systems into the grid.

“The European Wind Initiative is a big step forward in our efforts to maintain and strengthen Europe’s global leadership in wind energy technology,” remarked Christian Kjaer, CEO of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

Read more here…

BEIJING, May 27 (UPI) — China and the United States signed eight green energy deals Wednesday in Beijing but financial details were not disclosed, Chinese media reported.

The deals, designed to increase cooperation in the sector, cover areas such as aviation biofuel, distributed energy systems using natural gas as fuel, smart meters and cellulosic ethanol, the China Daily reported. A number of Chinese and U.S. companies would be involved in the eight deals.

The report quoted analysts that the agreements between the world’s two largest energy users would encourage global collaboration in increasing energy efficiency and protecting the environment.

The agreements came at the conclusion of the two-day China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues in Beijing.

Zhang Guobo, head of the National Energy Administration, also noted bilateral collaboration in renewable energy development, adding: “The United States has advanced technology, and China has a huge market,” the China Daily reported.

U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman was quoted as saying the two countries will “take every angle” to ensure their cooperation in energy and environment.

Zhang said renewable energy development is important for China to achieve goals of increasing the use of non-fossil energy to 15 percent of primary energy use by 2020, and reducing carbon intensity by 40 percent to 45 percent in 2020 from 2005 levels, China Daily reported.

He said China will continue to focus on the development of hydro, wind, solar, and biomass energy in the renewable sector.

Earlier, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu was quoted as saying improving energy efficiency would both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost economic growth.
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The United Kingdom’s offshore renewable energy capacity could one day generate as much electricity every year as would one billion barrels of oil, according to a recent report from the Offshore Valuation Group.

The Group projects that utilizing just one third of the available wind and tidal resources off the UK coast could eventually transform the nation from a net importer to a net exporter of electricity by 2050.  At the same time, deploying these resources would result in a savings of 1.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions and create infrastructure with a positive net present value of £35 billion.

“We have long been saying that the North Sea will become the Saudi Arabia of wind energy,” says Peter Madigan, head of offshore renewables at industry advocacy body RenewableUK.

Read the full article here…

At first glance, Saudi Arabia may seem an unlikely supporter of renewable energy, considering the vast oil resources under its control.  On the contrary, Saudi Arabia is looking to take advantage of its other prolific resource – sunlight – with new solar power projects designed to keep the country competitive as renewables increasingly play a role in the overall energy mix.

Mohammed Y. Al-Qahtani, executive director of petroleum engineering and development at Aramco believes “renewables will have an important place in the total energy equation.”   Saudi Arabia is looking to use its substantial solar resources as a substitute for oil to generate power domestically as well as to power desalination plants.  Although solar is currently more a more expensive means of power generation than oil or gas, Al-Qahtani expects this will shift over time.

The Kingdom recently invested in one of the world’s largest solar-heated complexes at a school in the northwestern part of the country, and is considering participating in the Desertec Initiative which would transmit electricity from North Africa and Middle Eastern solar power plants to Europe.

Read more here…

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing $2.25 billion in financing to the Asia Solar Energy Initiative, in the hopes of attracting significant additional investment – on the scale of $6.75 billion over  the next three years.  The Asia Solar Energy Initiative (ASEI) will develop large-scale solar power projects in the Asia and Pacific region, aiming for 3,000MW in installed generating capacity by 2012.

“With energy demand projected to almost double in the Asia and Pacific region by 2030, there is an urgent need for innovative ways to generate power whole at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rajat Nag, managing director at ADB.  Central Asia is a region of particular interest, thanks in part to the vast amounts of desert land available for massive solar construction.

In 2009, ADB supplied nearly $1.3 billion in funding for clean energy projects, exceeding its $1 billion target.  Beginning in 2013, the Bank is aiming to increase its investment to $2 billion/year.

Read more here…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the leadership of Energy Secretary Steven Chu is not waiting around for the Senate as it works to draft new climate legislation.

Secretary Chu announced Friday that the DOE will invest over $200 million over the next five years to increase deployment of solar and wind energy technology throughout the United States.  This funding will “help strengthen American competitiveness in renewable energy and transform the US into a lasting manufacturing presence in the 21st century clean-energy economy,” said Chu.

The DOE funding will support both manufacturing-focused research projects in wind and solar, as well specific funding for research into advanced processes for use in the photovoltaic (PV) industry.

Read the full article here…

PEOPLE – PLANET – PROFIT

Click on the thumbnail picture to view this video

Advances in Technology will make conventional energy generation cleaner & more efficient whilst making alternative energy more money efficient. A Paradigm shift is occurring, but it will be an evolutionary process converting the planet to renewable resources. This Bridge period presents the best opportunity that our generation has ever seen.

Presented by

Lauralouise Duffy, CEO -

Global Fund Exchange

Looking ahead to the coming year, Wall Street analysts say 2010 might shape up to be the year of commodities.

Oil prices enjoyed a 9-day rise as the year began, and the International Monetary Fund’s prediction of a 3.1% global expansion in 2010 leads many to believe the price of food products will go up.

Analysts point out gold is not the only thing that has enjoyed performance; other precious metals, industrial metals and agriculture have also been part of a broader commodity recovery.

Read more here…

Both India and South Africa are establishing massive seawater desalination plants in order to address the supply and treatment of domestic water resources.

India will begin construction on the nation’s largest desalination plant in the city in Nemmili next month.  The project is slated for completion in two years, at which point it will be capable of producing 100 million liters per day (MLD) of fresh water from sea water via reverse osmosis.  The desalination plant will help meet municipal water needs, which have previously been met via monsoon rains.  Changing climate and weather patterns, however, are making India’s monsoon season more unpredictable.  Read more here…

In South Africa, upgrades are being made to an existing desalination plant on the Eastern Cape.  Upon completion, the new plant will have a ready to serve a municipal population of nearly 50,000 people in the Ndjambe Municipality.   Read more here…

A new analysis from Pike Research examines the growth of “sustainable packing”; a former niche segment of the industry that is expanding as consumer support for eco-friendly packaging increases.

Revenues from the global packaging industry totaled nearly $429 billion in 2009.  As demand for consumer goods increases in developing nations, that figure could rise to $530 billion by 2014.  It appears that “sustainable packaging” is growing even faster than the overall industry.  2009 revenues were $88 billion, but by 2014, that figure may nearly double to $170 billion.

Pike Research predicts plastic-based packaging, which represents over 1/3 of the global packaging industry, will be the fastest growing segment of the sustainable packaging sector by 2014 as it becomes more “eco-friendly.”  Read the full article…

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has put 31 renewable energy and power transmission projects proposed for federal lands on the “fast track” for approval.

The projects in question, which range from solar, wind, geothermal to power transmissions projects, could be approved by Dec 2010.  Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has streamlined the application and review process in order to allow these projects to qualify for federal stimulus funding.

The BLM is “committed to helping diversify this country’s energy portfolio in an environmentally responsible manner,” the agency said in a statement.

Read the full article…

Despite the difficult economic climate, venture capitalists invested significantly in the green technology space during 2009. Greentech Media year end figures show VC firms signed 356 deals with green tech start ups, representing $4.85 billion investment dollars.

Solar power once again took the largest share of investments with 84 deals totaling over $1.4 billion. The segment has led the pack for the past four years. The biofuel, smart grid and energy storage sectors saw significant investment as well. Notable venture investments were made in water as well, with more than $130 million invested in 33 deals.

“We continue to see talent turn to the massive opportunities in this new industrial revolution combating climate change,” says Marianne Wu, Partner at Cleantech Investor, who is expecting big things from the sector in 2010.

Read the full article…